S14: Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level

S14.3: Injury of brachial plexus

The spine contains the spinal cord. The spinal cord is made up of nerve fibers. To the side of the spine, the nerve fibers emerge from the spinal cord and form nerves. Nerves are a sort of wiring in the body. Nerves conduct information. The nerves use electrical impulses to do this. Nerves are important, for instance, in enabling you to sense contacts and temperatures, and to move your muscles.

In the neck area, nerves emerge from the side of the spine to serve the shoulder and arm. Together, the nerves between the neck and the armpit form a network. When the network of nerves between the neck and the armpit is injured, there can be a variety of symptoms. You may no longer be able to move certain muscles in your shoulder or arm properly, for example. You may also have less sensation in your shoulder or arm.